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"I cant do this," I explain, hoping shell understand. Shes having none of it. Just by the stern look on her face, I know. "Margaret, put the key in the ignition. " I do it.
"Now turn the key and start the car. " I turn the key.
"What are you afraid of, dear?"
"Hitting someone. Getting into an accident. " I gulp.
"This part of you has to change, you know. Being afraid to take chances is scarier than actually doing things that challenge you. "
"I havent driven since the accident. "
"Its about time you did, then. "
I shake my head.
"Back up slowly so you dont hit the fence. " Mrs. Reynolds faces forward and buckles her seat belt.
I buckle mine, too. I have no clue why the lady can make me do things I dont want to do. Its like she has this power over me.
I take a deep breath, press my foot on the brake, and put the car into reverse. Slowly releasing the brake, I turn back and make sure Im all clear to back out of the driveway.
"Watch out for the mailbox," Mrs. Reynolds advises.
Were safe at the bottom of the driveway and I back out into the street. Im trying to convince myself not to have a panic attack, but I dont think Im being too successful. Part of me is excited to drive again and get that fear out of my life, but the other, stronger part of me, wants to put the car in park and limp home. I hear Calebs voice inside my head, pushing me to do it.
Mrs. Reynolds pats me on the knee. "Well done, Margaret. "
With that vote of confidence, I put the car into drive and slowly head down the street.
My feet arent used to the pedals and Im stopping too hard and accelerating too fast. "Sorry," I say after we come to a stop sign and Mrs. Reynolds jerks forward.
She clears her throat. "No problem. Lets take it a little easy on the accelerator and brake, shall we?"
"Uh, sure. " But when its my turn to cross the intersection, I take my foot off the brake and gently put pressure on the accelerator. I pump it a bit because I dont want to jerk Mrs. Reynolds forward again.
But now Im making it worse. Oops. "Youd probably be a better driver, even with your vision problems," I say seriously.
"I might have to agree with you, dear. Next time we try this, remind me to take some Dramamine. "
I give her a sideways glance. "You look like youre going to be sick. "
"Just look at the road, not at me," she orders. "My looking sick has nothing to do with your driving. "
She directs me to a place called Moniques. It has cute dresses in the window. By the time we get there my nerves have gone from overdrive to idle. I follow Mrs. Reynolds into the store. Dresses in all colors and patterns are positioned on racks throughout the store.
Mrs. Reynolds runs her fingers over a short, light blue silk dress. "Do you know how to spot quality material?"
I take my hand and run the soft cloth through my fingers. "Ive never really paid attention to fabrics. "
"Every fabric has its own personality, just like my daffodils. For some, the softness and weight matters. For others, its the way the fabric moves . . . and you cant discount color vibrancy. "
"How do you know so much?"
"Honey, when youre as old as I am, you know more than you want to know. "
A woman who works at the store comes up to us, wearing a plum pant suit and blonde hair thats neatly combed and curled at the ends. "Can I help you ladies?"
"Were looking for a dress," Mrs. Reynolds says, then points to me. "For this young lady. "
"For me?" I say, following behind as the lady leads us through the store.
Mrs. Reynolds stops and turns to me. "You need a little something to spice up your wardrobe, Margaret. All you wear are solids and, to be completely honest, your clothes are a bit too big and casual. "
I look down at my black cotton pants and grey t-shirt. "Theyre comfortable. "
"And totally appropriate for lounging around the house. But, were having dinner tonight and I want you to dress up. Consider it an early Christmas gift. "
The saleswoman leads us to a rack of short cocktail dresses. "These just came in from Europe. Its a new silk/ washable blend. "
Mrs. Reynolds slides the silky, teal-colored dress between her fingers. "Too stiff. Shes used to cotton, so Id like a softer fabric. "
"I dont wear short dresses," I tell them.
The lady leads us to another corner of the store. "How about a cotton/wool blend?"
Mrs. Reynolds shakes her head. "Too hot. "
"Rayon?" loo clingy.
Id expect the lady to get frustrated, but she just puts her hand to her chin in thought. "I may have something that youd like in the back. Wait here. " She goes to the back of the store and comes out a minute later with a yellow dress hanging off her arm. Holding it out to Mrs. Reynolds, she says, "Its from Sweden. A new supplier sent it to us for evaluation. "
Mrs. Reynolds eyes the dress, then rubs the edge of the fabric between her thumb and forefinger. "Love the fabric, but the color is atrocious. Shed look like a sour lemon in this. "
"It came in a light plum color, too. Ill go get it. "
"Its a beautiful shade," I say when she brings out the plum-colored dress. I try it on in the dressing room. It has spaghetti straps and a scooped neckline. The middle is cinched at the waist before waves of the material flow down and stop just above my ankle. When I walk in front of the mirror you can hardly tell I have a limp.
The sales woman smiles when I model it for them. "I think we have a winner here. "
Mrs. Reynolds smacks her lips together. "Its perfect. Well take it. "
"You have a very generous grandmother," the saleswoman says to me.
I look over at Mrs. Reynolds, who is across the store looking at another dress. "I know. I couldnt have picked a better one myself. "
When I go back to the dressing room to take the dress off, Mrs. Reynolds stops me. "Keep it on, Margaret. Well be going to dinner from here and you wont have time to change. "
"Which dress are you trying on?"
"Old ladies dont need new dresses. Now stop the chatter and lets move on. "
I put my hands on my cinched, plum-covered hips. "Im not leaving this store until you buy a new dress, too. "
Mrs. Reynolds mouth opens in shock.
"Dont look so startled, Grandma," I say, copying her famous saying to me. "It doesnt suit your face. "
Her mouth snaps shut. Then she throws her head back and howls with unabashed laughter.
A half hour later were back in the Cadillac. I might also add that Mrs. Reynolds is wearing a new silk and rayon, powder-blue dress with a matching jacket.
"I want you to deduct money out of my paycheck for the dress. I insist," I say.
Mrs. Reynolds just smiles without responding.
"Im serious, Mrs. Reynolds. "
"I know you are, dear, and I appreciate it. But Im still buying it with my own funds. "
I shake my head in frustration. "Where to now?" A pie run. "Huh?"
"Just head for Auntie Maes Diner and youll see. "
I steer the car around and drive to the diner.
Mrs. Reynolds ducks down. "Go to the back, where the dumpster is," she whispers. "And dont let anyone see you. "
The woman is serious. I slide down in the seat and creep the car toward the back of the restaurant as if were here to rob the place. I stop near the dumpsters. "What are we doing here?" I whisper, then wonder why Im whispering. Her son owns the restaurant.
"Keep the car running, just get out and knock on the back door three times. Then you pause for two seconds and then knock another three times. " Mrs. Reynolds sinks lower into her seat. "When someone answers, say, The red hen has flown the coop. "
"I dont get it. "
"You will if you follow my directions. Now go!"
This is comical. I almost pee in my dress as I creep up to the back door and knock. Knock, knock, knock. Pause. Knock, knock, knock.
Juan, one of the bus boys, opens the door a crack.
I burst out laughing as I say, "The red bird has flown the coop. "
"Dont you mean hen? "
"Oh, yeah. Sorry, sorry, sorry. I mean The red hen has flown the coop. "
I think Juan is laughing as he says, "Wait here," and closes the door. When the door opens, Irina hands me two boxes.
"Whats inside?" I say.
"Dont ask me, Moggie. A surprise for you and Mrs. Reynolds. "
When she closes the door, I bring the boxes to the car and slide into the drivers seat. "We got the goods. "
"Great, now head back to my house. "
Mrs. Reynolds is smirking as I drive up to her house. When I pull up to the garage, I finally figure out what this is all about.
The gazebo is finished, and Caleb has hung white lights all around it. White candles are lit inside, making the whole gazebo light up. Caleb is standing beside it, wearing khaki pants and a white dress shirt and tie.
When he winks at me and flashes his smile, I feel another piece of armor chipping away.
THIRTY-SEVEN
Caleb
I hurry to the car and open the door for Mrs. Reynolds. I hold out my hand and help her out of the car. "You look hot," I tell her.
She pats me on the cheek and says, "If I was only sixty years younger, sonny boy. "
"Did you do what I said?" I say close to her ear. She snorts. "I had Margaret saying that ridiculous sentence we came up with. "
Mrs. Reynolds and I are partners in crime tonight. The gazebo is finished. My job here is done. I had the old lady make Maggie drive around town until six oclock. Ive been putting this night together in my head for a week already. A perfect night.
When I turn and catch sight of Maggie, Im doomed. And speechless.
Mrs. Reynolds says, "Dont look so startled, Caleb. It doesnt suit your face. "
Maggie walks up to me, the dress showing off curves I only recently dreamed she had.
"The gazebo looks great," she says.
I dont look away from her. Hell, I cant take my eyes off of her. These two unlikely women are my saving grace.
Maggie blushes, then glides away to join Mrs. Reynolds in the gazebo.
Ive set a table inside the gazebo, complete with a three-course meal, compliments of my saved-up lawn mowing allowance and Little Italy Restaurant. I added a little spot heater to keep the gazebo warm, and have a portable radio with music playing softly in the background.
After pulling out a chair for Maggie, I hold my hand out to Mrs. Reynolds. "Would you care to dance, milady?"
She laughs, but I take her hand and pull her into a spin and into my arms. She shrieks. "Caleb, please. Im an old lady. Wheres my cane?"
"I thought old ladies like younger men," I tease, and dance slowly until the song is over.
I lead her to her chair and pull it out. "You better watch out for him, Margaret. Hes dangerous. "
I wince as I bend down to sit.
"Whats wrong?" Maggie asks.
"Nothing," I say after everyone has been served. I take a spoonful of the minestrone and look up. Maggies not buying it. Neither is Mrs. Reynolds. "Okay, okay. I competed in a wrestling invitational today. No big deal. "